Syria Denies Israel Targeted a Weapons Convoy

Syria’s ambassador to the UN says there is “no truth” to reports that alleged Israeli airstrike targeted a convoy heading to Lebanon.

By Elad Benari

First Publish: 2/8/2013, 6:15 AM

IAF F-16

Israel news photo: Flash 90

Syria’s ambassador to the United Nations has claimed there is “no truth” to reports that an alleged Israeli airstrike last week had targeted a convoy heading to neighboring Lebanon.

The ambassador, Bashar Jaafari, insisted that the airstrike targeted a scientific research center.

In identical letters he wrote to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council dated January 31 and circulated Thursday, Jaafari wrote that Israeli aircraft flying at low altitude to avoid radar headed to the research center in Jamraya and bombed it, killing two employees and injuring five others.

“The attack caused destruction and substantial material damage not only to the center, but also to the adjacent technical development center and a parking garage,” said Jaafari’s letter.

“Syria emphasizes that there is no truth to the media reports asserting that the Israeli aircraft had targeted a convoy that was heading from Syria to Lebanon,” the letter added.

Israel has not commented on the attack, and has not officially confirmed its involvement, although on Sunday Defense Minister Ehud Barak hinted at the possibility that Israel did carry out the attack.

Iran, Syria’s closest ally, said on Monday that Israel will regret its latest "aggression against Syria".

"Just like it regretted all its wars... the Zionist entity will regret its aggression against Syria," said National Security Council head Said Jalili.